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Using Apple TV for Airplay in hotel rooms while traveling?

M

MasturB

macrumors member
Original poster
Jan 31, 2014
87
29
Hello,

My client and I travel a bunch for work. Usually when we're preparing work, I connect my MBP to the hotel room TV's with the lightning to HDMI cable I travel with. But I just bought a new iPad Pro and I want to still connect it to the TV but keep it wireless instead of having the cable hang out to the TV (and buy like a 20 foot USB-C to HDMI cable to be able to sit down on the bed or table and not have to stay next to the TV).

Sometimes we stay in AirBnB's if they're cheaper than hotels locally. And usually the AirBnB's have running WiFi so Airplay works fine.

However most corporate hotels require browser based logins, so Apple TV would be a hassle in this instance to use for Airplay.

So my question was, if I just brought a small used router with us. Plugged in the router and connected the Apple TV to the TV in the room, and then connected the ATV and iPad Pro to the router, I could still use Airplay correct? I don't need to be connected to the actual internet to get Airplay to work, because the screen mirroring data is only being processed through the router itself, and not relying to apple or some server somewhere then shooting it back to the Apple TV to display?

I was under the assumption the Airplay screen mirroring data is localized and stays only on the router. So if I didn't connect the router to the Hotel wall via ethernet, I still wouldn't have to worry about Airplay not working.
 
Many times in the past I have brought an Airport Express with my Apple TV. Using this combo, I am able to use Airplay, setup is as follows:

Hotel with Ethernet: Plug WAN port of AP Express into Ethernet, set up the APExpress in bridge mode with create a WiFi network. This setup allows you to use your personal WiFi wherever you go, and ATV, and iOS devices connect to their familiar network and do their airplay thing naturally.

Hotel without Ethernet: Most require a login, so AP Express will be unable to join the WiFi. So, I use an older MacBook Pro to connect to the hotel WiFi, then use Internet Connection Sharing to share my WiFi connection with the Ethernet port. I plug the AP Express into the Ethernet port on the Mac, then like above, use bridge mode and create a WiFi network for my familiar WLAN.
 
techwarrior said:
Many times in the past I have brought an Airport Express with my Apple TV. Using this combo, I am able to use Airplay, setup is as follows:

Hotel with Ethernet: Plug WAN port of AP Express into Ethernet, set up the APExpress in bridge mode with create a WiFi network. This setup allows you to use your personal WiFi wherever you go, and ATV, and iOS devices connect to their familiar network and do their airplay thing naturally.

Hotel without Ethernet: Most require a login, so AP Express will be unable to join the WiFi. So, I use an older MacBook Pro to connect to the hotel WiFi, then use Internet Connection Sharing to share my WiFi connection with the Ethernet port. I plug the AP Express into the Ethernet port on the Mac, then like above, use bridge mode and create a WiFi network for my familiar WLAN.
Click to expand...

I'm not familiar with Apple Routers, I've had Linksys models for 15 years. Is the AP Express an access point or it works as a stand alone router?

I don't need it for internet. What I'm mainly just trying to do is get the airplay to work. Airplay can still work without using internet I'd imagine? As long as you have a router of sorts to distribute the screen mirroring data, you don't need to be connected to the internet or some apple server to get Airplay to work.
 
There are a bunch of travel routers on Amazon that specialize in this. I bought one a few years ago. They’re tiny and designed to be able to handle the typical hotel logins.
 
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MasturB said:
This looks like it might solve my problem. Going to go to the store and buy a regular 4th gen ATV (non-4K), hook it up to my TV and see if my new iPad Pro will do the peer-to-peer airplay for screen mirroring with no issues.
Click to expand...
Before cashing out money, you could ask for a demo in-store, I guess.
 
MasturB said:
'm not familiar with Apple Routers, I've had Linksys models for 15 years. Is the AP Express an access point or it works as a stand alone router?
Click to expand...

Can be a router, most use it as an access point.

Peer to peer may be ok if you don't need ATV to stream direct from the Internet.
 
techwarrior said:
Can be a router, most use it as an access point.

Peer to peer may be ok if you don't need ATV to stream direct from the Internet.
Click to expand...

Nope. Dont need it for any shows or anything. I have my macbook pro with an hdmi cable I can screen mirror for netflix,prime,or hbo stuff in the browser.

The ATV would basically be for business and video analysis with my players from the iPad Pro, and presentations but all files would be local to the Pro anyways so no requirement for internet.
 
MasturB said:
Nope. Dont need it for any shows or anything. I have my macbook pro with an hdmi cable I can screen mirror for netflix,prime,or hbo stuff in the browser.
Click to expand...
This seems super easy to me -- bypass the whole hotel network completely and go for a direct connection with one cable. There's an adapter to go from an iOS device's Lightning port to HDMI as well.
 
ignatius345 said:
This seems super easy to me -- bypass the whole hotel network completely and go for a direct connection with one cable. There's an adapter to go from an iOS device's Lightning port to HDMI as well.
Click to expand...

I use that for my MBP... but if I do it for the iPad Pro I want to be able to hold the iPad without a dongle/cable hanging from it. I want it to be wirefree.
 
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All of these tips are pretty helpful.

Mine might be easiest of all, as it doesn't require any extra equipment, and everything is still wireless.

I take my Apple TV with me when ever I travel, and I can always connect it to the corporate chains' Wifi.

Every hotel room I have stayed in at least the past 6 years has instructions in the room on how to connect to their Wifi, and they all have a phone number listed on their for help. Call the number, tell the person what you are trying to do. They will ask for your ATV's MAC address, and they enter it in their system. Then just select the network name on the ATV and it will connect.

Now, whether AirPlay will work, I am not sure if it will on every network, but I have used AirPlay in two place after having the Helpdesk connect my ATV, and it worked both times.
 
So basically, I got an Apple TV to do Airplay... and if anything Airplay on :apple: TV OVERdelivered of what I wanted it to do.

So here is what my iPad Pro screen looks like. For multi-tasking, I want to be able to show my clients the video on the left, and I have notability on the right (it's a tennis court layout I can draw on)

0lJLCdf.jpg


However once I pressed play on the video... I wasn't expecting this to happen.
pjzRqv6.jpg


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So instead of actual true screen mirroring, Airplay is actually foregoing the screen mirroring and just filling the TV up with the video I'm playing. On my iPad I can still draw on notability on the right side, but I wanted my players to see my notes I'm writing on the TV while the video is playing next to it like in Picture 1 (before I pressed play).

So if I got the USB-C to HDMI-OUT cable would it produce true screen mirroring or would it use the entire screen like Airplay does? That would defeat the purpose of me wanting to keep the iPad Pro wireless and do my analysis presentation style... my MacBook Pro lightning to HDMI is true screen mirroring obviously.

Maybe there's a 3rd party video app I can download that will keep the multi-tasking on the screen without taking up the entire screen with the video playback?
 
vertical smile said:
All of these tips are pretty helpful.

Mine might be easiest of all, as it doesn't require any extra equipment, and everything is still wireless.

I take my Apple TV with me when ever I travel, and I can always connect it to the corporate chains' Wifi.

Every hotel room I have stayed in at least the past 6 years has instructions in the room on how to connect to their Wifi, and they all have a phone number listed on their for help. Call the number, tell the person what you are trying to do. They will ask for your ATV's MAC address, and they enter it in their system. Then just select the network name on the ATV and it will connect.

Now, whether AirPlay will work, I am not sure if it will on every network, but I have used AirPlay in two place after having the Helpdesk connect my ATV, and it worked both times.
Click to expand...


I have done exactly the same thing in many hotels around the world. Most modern hotels have a IT department and they can easily add your MAC addy to the hotel system by telephone or by laptop. I sometimes can get my addy added prior to my arrival if you get to the right person.

Unfortunately, the FIRESTICK has a "mini browser" that enables you to sign to the hotel system portal like you would on your computer or iOS device. The ATV does NOT have this feature which is why I carry both devices when traveling.

IMHO, as long as your iOS device and ATV are on the same hotel network, Airplay has always worked for me...
 
MasturB said:
This looks like it might solve my problem. Going to go to the store and buy a regular 4th gen ATV (non-4K), hook it up to my TV and see if my new iPad Pro will do the peer-to-peer airplay for screen mirroring with no issues.
Click to expand...

It will! I’ve done it in my caravan (trailer for our New World colleagues). You have to set it up properly. If I remember correctly (and I often don’t) you don’t need Wi-fi but Wi-fi and Bluetooth must be on on both devices.
 
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